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Stuck 25D4 Distributor

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Obtong

Obtong

Jedi Hopeful
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Does anyone know what to do about a stuck distributor? I need to adjust the timing on my 74 MGB, but the darn thing won't turn/twist!

I tried loosening the clamping plate as far as it would go, as well as prising its "arms" apart slightly. I also used some WD40 on it. I simply cannot get the thing to turn.

Any suggestions?
Obtong

PS. I also got a *slight* shock off the thing when I touched it with the engine running. Do I have an electrical problem to work on as well?
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Obtong:
Does anyone know what to do about a stuck distributor? I need to adjust the timing on my 74 MGB, but the darn thing won't turn/twist!

I tried loosening the clamping plate as far as it would go, as well as prising its "arms" apart slightly. I also used some WD40 on it. I simply cannot get the thing to turn.

Any suggestions?
Obtong

PS. I also got a *slight* shock off the thing when I touched it with the engine running. Do I have an electrical problem to work on as well?<hr></blockquote>

It might just be rust - but I think I’ll let someone else handle the “stuck Distributor problem” with you.

I would like to comment on the electrical shock you recived when you touched the Distributor while the engine was running. As side from the obvious answer of “don’t do that again”, I will make a serious suggestion that you consider replacing plug wires & rotor cap. If this was done recently then at least pull the rotor cap off and clean it really good. I assume that you are either giving your car a tune up or getting ready for a tear down. But depending on how old the plug wires & rotor cap are you could be asking for trouble down the road if you don’t take care of this. A little rain or a puddle of water could leave you stranded. Remember that just because you don’t see any cracks or damage – you could have carbon buildup or trails caused by arcing due to warn or damaged points & rotor.

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Remove the clamp completly If you can.. Make sure that the bolt holding the clamp to the block is removed ( sorry, had to mention it ). Use a propane tourch to heat the block right around the dist housing.. this should free it up some.. Don't spray penetrating oil on it just before this, or it will be ' flame on..'. Try tapping the block with a hammer also, to set up some vibration to allow penetrating oil to go through.

While it's unlikely that a propane tourch will heat it enough to damage the sealing o ring on the dist, check it anyway. You can also carefully use a pipe wrench to twist the dist if you can get at it.. the trick is to get the dist to rotate before pulling it out.. Then you know it is free.

I have run across one motor where the dist would not come out.. period. I was rebuilding it, so I went and found another block ( small block Ford, so they are a dime a dozen..)
 
before using the propane torch, remove the clamp completely and try some pb blaster penetrant. tap lightly with a hammer. lightly. worked on mine. stuff works great. btw, how many brits does it take to adjust the timing on an mg? 10, 1 to hold the distributor and 9 to turn the engine and car.
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I would just undo the bottom plate totally and tap it!! If you can get it moving, it'll be fine!! But you really should get her out and clean it all up!! Acutally, it is real easy to pull your distributer and do the points on the work bench!!
 
Gary is right it is easier to set everything up on tha bench. This is a first for Gary
 
no I don't think I'm married to you. I'll ask Tony tommorrow if you were ever right
 
Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately, despite having tried all your suggestions, I still cannot move the thing. Perhaps I'm not using enough force, or perhaps I'm loosening the wrong clamp (Moss 153-400 which I can only loosen and unblot from the engine, but I cannot remove it).

As soon as it stops raining I'm going to bring it into my local MGB garage. Perhaps they can do it for me...

Once again, thanks for your help. I'm sure it would have worked for any other distributor!

Obtong.
 
Hey Chuck!! I own guns, just not hand guns!! I believe that they only have one purpose, and I would never do that!! I do not threaten people or would I ever shoot a person unless they were raping my daughter or wife and there was absolutely no other option!! I pray that I would never be placed in the position that I had to make that decision!! As far as hugging trees, I believe that all intelligent people want this world to be here for their grandchildren!! I don't hugg trees, but I sure do recycle a lot, and never dump my oil in the bush anymore!!
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